Boundary element method for the analysis of circular and annular plates

Abstract

A boundary element analysis of circular and annular plates with arbitrary combinations of simple, clamped and free edges supports subject to concentrated loads and uniformly distributed load is presented. Direct formulation based on Betti’s reciprocal theorem leads to three boundary integral equations involving a combination of unknown functions of deflection, normal slope, normal bending moment and Kirchhoff’s shear along the boundary of the plate, as well as unknown column reactions. The resulting integral equations are solved approximately by a conventional scheme of numerical technique. Treatment of improper integral which are involved in the computation is also discussed. Numerical results of several plates of different boundary conditions are presented in curves. They are found to be in good agreement with those by other investigators. Results are also compared with those from a finite element method.